You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post. Please note, all posts are moderated by our in-house language experts, so make sure your suggestions, help, and advice house the kind of information an international language teacher would offer. If not, and your posts do not contribute to the topic in a positive way, they will be subject to deletion.
I am trying to find examples where sometimes we should use the subjunctive and sometimes not so would you please tell me if my sentences are coherent? Do you have a better suggestion ?
1) Given the state of the roads I will have to drive on, I would rather rent a car than borrow theirs.
2) Having discovered the states of the roads we drove on, they would rather we had rented a car than borrowed theirs.
3) It's about time she learnt to look after herself. (How would you justify the choice of the subjunctive here? Is it because one doesn't expect her to become responsible ?)
4) If you really want to send that letter off today, it's high time you went to the post office. (what about this case, is there a rational explanation for the subjunctive?)
I would be very grateful if you could answer me as soon as possible.
Many thanks,
Hela